Mickey,
What kind of year do you see Kellen JonesKellen JonesSo. Linebacker#52 6-1, 215Houston, TXView Full Profile having this season? Is he good enough to start week one?Also do we have enough scholarships to go around if things break our way on signing day?

Brian

Brian,
I hear very good things on Jones. Some that have watched the scout team defense told me that he was by far the best of the newcomers. Another observer told me he would have been a starter this past season had he been able to play. Jones got injured about half way through the season but is healthy now as far as I know. I believe in his ability but it will be interesting to see how long it takes him to get back to doing the little things well after being on the scout team for a season. This spring will be big for him. I am interested to see how he responds to getting coached by Venables every day but at this point I would not be surprised to see him start next season.

Brad Lawing quits over the weekend and goes to Florida. By Monday, the OBC has hired Deke Adams out of UNC and He is recruiting by Tuesday.

Hows does this happen?

Glenn

Glenn,
That is a great question that I have not thought about. I am not exactly sure. My guess is that Clemson is more conservative with their background checks. The other thing that seems to be a trend is that Spurrier is not interested in interviewing a bunch of people for a job. He either lets his coordinators do it or he has someone in mind and the hire is done without a lot of interviews. Hope this helps.

Mickey,

With National Signing Day for college football fast approaching, please give me your definitions (and expectation) for 5-star, 4-star, 3-star, 2-star, and 1-star ratings.

Do the same definitions apply to all college sports; for example, basketball, baseball, tennis, track?

I have great respect for your knowledge and opinions.

Thank you for your time.

Go Tigers!

Lee

Lee,
First we need to understand that these are based upon projections. Second we need to remember that most of these kids still have a lot of developing to do athletically, academically, socially and in other aspects. Some just are not mature enough to handle their expectations.

In my opinion a five star is someone who is obviously superior in ability. A five star is someone who can come in fairly soon in his career and make a difference. To me five stars are ones that have NFL written all over them if they continue on the track they have started. They are the special players and difference makers. These are the elite players.

Four stars are the players that are clearly great players with great potential but are slightly behind the elite. They have a ton of tools to work with and have potential to be great players in college and in the NFL. Four stars have almost everything that a five star has but it is not a given in every aspect.

Three star prospects are the ones that most division one schools are fighting over. There are only about 25 five stars in the country and only a couple of hundred four stars. Therefore, most division I-A athletes with majors offers will fall into this category. Three stars can make it as big as five stars in many cases but they don't come into college with superior ability. Theirs will be based upon how they develop because they have further to go.

Two stars are projects in many cases. They don't have a lot of division I-A offers. They can still develop but most schools have not stepped out and offered most two stars. The NFL is full of two stars that developed though. Look at how many players in the NFL came from really small programs. This is more proof of just how difficult it is to project and just how important player development can be.

The process is full of five stars who were busts and two stars that make it. Therefore it is not a perfect system. However, I think the program that signs the most five stars and four stars has a much greater chance at success.

Over the last five years Alabama has signed more four and five star players than Clemson and South Carolina combined. That is a major reason why they are the elite program in the country.

Mickey,
Be honest, at any point in time last night did you think we would win the basketball game. Don't spin it. Be honest. I am a big fan and I knew we would find a way to lose.

Bear

Bear,
I cannot say that I ever thought we were going to pull it out. I hate thinking that way but that is the honesty you asked for. I just hate admitting it.

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